Exercising apparatus



May 7, 1946 w. A. BRAKE 2,399,915

EXERCISING APPARATUS 'Filed Nov. 16, 1945 s sheets-sheet 1 Q n QN Q ---3121- 1 1 1 1 -1T @mi @m4 11 N May 7, 1946. w. A. DRAKE 2,399,915

EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.- Ward Dra ke,

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May 7, 1946. w. A. DRAKE EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (Inventor Ward A. Dra/(e.

attorney Patented May 7, 1946 vUNITED STATES PATEN r 'o1-FICE The present invention relates to exercising apparatus, and particularly to novel improvements in treadmills or the like.

It is very important for people, both young and old, to keep physically nt. Every nation should have a reserve of vigorous and healthy men and women upon whom they can call to carry on the duties of peace and War. While the Army and the Navy in time of war may keep up reasonably strenuous training programs, there are thousands of people after they become settled in a so-called white-collar job, who become physically uniit from lack of proper exercise. Many of such people are hindered because they live in the city in apartments, and though on occasions after a tiring day at the oilice they may be able to arise early enough to walk downtown to the oilice the next morning, it is usually necessary to lose an extra hour or two of much needed early morning sleep. So, although a person may have good ambitions for keeping physically fit by walking to work for that much needed exercise, if business is particularly pressing requiring late hours such good ambitions soon fade away. Thus there is urgent need for van exercising device which will provide a most convenientarrangement for a reasonable amount of exercise at a time when the body is not too fatigued to absorb the full benets thereof.

One of the most natural and beneilcial forms of exercise for people in all age groups is walking. As pointed out above many people are unable to iind time for this most natural form of all exeroise. vention is to provide an exercising apparatus, which may be conveniently stored in the bedroom or other suitable location within the house, whereby the user may derive the equivalent of a good walk of several miles each morning and evening right in his house or apartment before and after work.

For younger people, such as athletes training for track meets, football and basketball games and other strenuous sports, it is essential to go through reasonably strenuous training periods to build their physical endurance. Accordingly, another object is to provide a novel treadmill training and physical conditioning device, whereby athletes training for track, football, basketball and other strenuous sports may accurately test their endurance.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for hospitals or the like, whereby patients suering from the results of infantile paralysis, long pe Accordingly, an object of the present inextremity of the learn to walk again and regain their former conildence in their physical abilities Another object is to provide a treadmill exerciser which is cheap to manufacture, durable and economical to keep in good mechanical condition.

I attain the foregoing objects of the present invention by providing an attractively designed novel portable device, which broadly includes an A i endless belt adapted to be walked or run upon,

and which as it is trod uponv rotates around a pair of drums detachably and adjustably sus-V pended in a novel supporting frame between the side walls of an enclosing ornamental casing,

which casing is provided with indicating and measuring instruments and, means responsive to the tread and pull of a person walking' on the belt.

Other objects, advantages and uses of the pres- .ent invention will appear more fully after readapparent to others may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

AIn the drawings: Figure l is a side elevational view of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal View taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 and shows a jack attached to raise one end of the device.

Figure 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a partial perspective View of the top of a combination handle bar and brake for controlling the speed of the endless belt.

Figure 6 is a iront view of the handle shown in Figure 5, and partly in section to show the brake operating connection.

Figure '7 is a pulled apart view of an arrangement for raising and lowering one end of the endless belt to provide an inclined surface for the exerciser to walk upon.

Figure 8 is a partial perspective of the lower brake handle and brake per se with several attachments as hereinafter are described.

VReferring to the several gures in detail and rstwith particular reference to Figure 1, there riods of illness and wounded war veterans may is shown a body Ill mounted onfour caster wheels Around the tube I9 is a hollow elongated tube Y 26 having a cooperating alinable aperture 2I. Tube 26 is secured by a coupling 22 to the topy of each of the wheel hoods I5. The tubes extend upwardly with respect to the body Ill around the relatively longer tubes I9 and are arranged to telescope with respect to each other when the front end of the body IU is elevated by any suitableV means, such as the jack 21, see Fig. 3.

For example, as the end of body I is raised by the jjack 21, which jack is attached' tofan outer surrounding frame 28- connected to each front wheel hood I5, it hoists this frame' which carries with it the front hoods I and elevates them above the wheels II.

Thus the wheels I I remain in solid engagement with the oor or surface on which the' apparatus may be, and the hoods I5 areA raised with the tubes 26 from around the, Wheels II to any desired height and Cotter pin 34 or the like may be inserted in aligned openings in tubes I9 and 25 to assist in holding the attached parts elevated- The hoods I5 each have brackets, such as hooks 36 attached to their oppositely facing sides withinthe body I5. These hooks 36 serve to support and retain a novel frame arrangement 35, see Figures 2 and 3.

This frame 35, for example, may be made of pipe or rod sections welded and coupled together, so as to provide means, such as pairs of arms Sii- 31, 38-39, at each end. The ends of the arms are. bent inwardly to provide stub axles i6-4I, l2-43, and iixed to these axles are bearing members, comprising discs IIS- 50, and 5I- 52, each disc having inwardly projecting pins 54, 55 and 56, see Fig. l. On these pins are journalled roller bearings 51, 58, and 59varranged to engage within an annular collar 60 mounted on the ends of one of a pair of large barrelshaped drums 6I around which an endless belt 63 is stretched.

One of these drums 6I is thus mounted on the bearings at each end of the novel frame 35, andV around each drum is stretched the heavy endless belt 63, on which an exerciser or user of the aD- paratus is supposed to walk, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As the exerciser Walks-upon this belt 63, which as previously explained may befraised at one end by jack 21 to provide an inclined walking surface. traction is imparted to rotate the'belt by his feet.

Obviously, the faster he walks the faster the belt 63 and the drums SI-BI will revolve. Accordingly, it is desirable that some means be provided to control the speed of the belt so as to provide a predetermined resistance to the traction set up by the exercisers feet for the most practical and beneficial results. For this purpose there is' a novel brake arrangement comprising a handle having side bars 65 and 66, extending angularly downward with respect to body III adjacent each side thereof and across and slightly below the frame 28 on each side back the front drum 6I to a medial point between the reaches of the belt 63. At each crossing point between the sides of the handle and the frame 28 are transverse pivot pins 10 and 1I. Note that the side bars 65 and 56 of the handle are long enough so that the handle may be swung over to the front of the body I0 and thus serve as means to pull the unit around on its wheels I I.

Below the outer frame 28 and the novel frame 35 and pivots 1B and 16 there is joined to each lower end of side bars 65 and 66 a transverse brake bar 13, see Fig. S. The brake bar 13 may be curved to conform to the adjacent surface of the barrel-shaped drum 6I between the reaches of the endless belt 63 and carries a brake shoe 15. The sides. 65- and 66 of the brake lever extend above the top of body I6 and are joined together by a. transverse handle bar 16, see Figs. l, 5 and 6.

The handle bar 15 is intended to be gripped by the exerciser and the brake 15 may be pulled into engagementl with the front drum EI for any braking pressure desired. A pawl and ratchet arrangement may be provided for holding the brake to various adjusted on positions. As shown, for example, there is a curved rack with teeth 11 mounted on the top side of the surrounding tubular framey 2B coupled in the wheel hood Slidably mounted in a sleeve. 1S mounted on bar 65 of' the brake handle is av dog 19 adaptedv to snap between the rackteeth 11 as. the handle bar is pulledv by the exerciser to lock the brake into various' brake applying positions, so as to set. th'ebelt for any desired degree of resistance to traction.

To release automatically the engageable dog 19 there is provided 'an operating rod 8l] connected tov one arm of a small bell crank lever 8l. The other arm 83" of the bell crank lever is connected by a'flexible cable 84 to a bolt 85, see Fig. 6. This bolt comprises a flange 86 against which is seated one end of a coiled spring 81 with the other endv ofv the coil being supported by a washer 8B through which the bolt slides.

The bolt 85 has dened thereon a key member 89 that cooperates with a key hole in the washer 88. The bolt 85 is normally held down by the eccentric end 96 of the transverse handle bar 16, so as to maintain the'coiled spring compresser! and the: dogl 19 locked between the rack teeth 11'. When the handle bar is turned in its socket mountings on each end of the sides G5 and 66, the'eccentric 90 is so arranged as to permit release of the dog by the spring 81, which expands against the flange 66 of the bolt 85 and rocksv the bell crank about its pivot so as to pull upward on the dog 19, release rod El! and raise dog 19 from between teeth 11.

With further reference to the novel frame 35 for supporting the endless belt and the drums 6 Il it is important to arrange for varying the ten` sion of the belt, and provide for removingY the drums to replace Vworn out belts. Accordingly, each set of arms 36-31 and 38-39 of the frame 35 are joined by transverse bars 52 and 93, and these bars. are adjustable by inserted interconnecting threaded sections, see Fig. 2, such as couplings 94 or the like.

These transverse pipe rod connections join with a centrally disposed parted pipe section Sil.

This section likewise has an interposed left andv right-hand threaded insert with a hexagonal nut fixed thereto to lengthen and shorten the distance between the transverse bars .S2-93.

These inserts comprise an inserted pipe section 95 withright and 'leftfhandfthreads 96 and 91 on each end and anvinterposed hexagonal ad-4 justing nut 98. Lengthening of the distance between thetransverse bars 92-93 by turning the hexagonal nut 98 increases the belt tension while shortening the section will decrease the tension of the belt.

platform ||0. `This platform comprises a frame having side bars -I|| and ||2 between which are joumalled rollers ;||4 on shafts ||5. Each end roller has a shaft I I6 extended over the outer frame 28 on each side to 'shock absorber device IIB, which is arranged to provide a yieldable fsup' port .furthe roller platform 1| |0un'der theupper reach of `theibelt 63. As thespecific form `of the: shock absorber I 8 is not the subject of thisapplication no detailed description o-f the same iscon sideredjnecessary other than that itcomprises' a bracket with a bolt I9 having fixed washer |20 onwhichrests a coiled spring -|2|, which carries. a movable washer |22 adapted to yield to pressure ofthe extended shafts I I6 ofthe end rollers.1'

(The platform is optional as the belt 63 on th'etop tread surface is convex "due to the barrelfshape of the drums 6|A which is usually suiiicient to provide the proper resistanceito the Weight of a person walking on the belt.

i uSometimes it may be desirable todrive the belt` 6|- by power-means, suchas anelectric motor |25..V `"Lher-*motorgqfor example, may be mounted from a bracket |26 on the-iframe, 35, and it has' a drive shaft-onl which is keyed a' rubber surfaced roller |29, see Fig.'4. The roller I 29 fricf tionally engages with the belt63, which belt ris held in proper frictional engagement by a supf porting shoe or block |30 carried by a C-shaped arm |32 secured to the motor housing by suit able means, such as boltstl34. i y

`A :suitable sourcel of electric power for the` motor from .an electric-outlet `plug |36 and a main conductor |3'I` to the motor is provided with a; branch conductor |38 leadingzto a rheo; stat switch |40 mounted on side rod I9. The motor |25 may thus be regulated Vconvenientliy by the rheostat for several speeds, as desire i Provision is made for measuring the pulll'of a from upriglits |48. "These straps join the cables |46, which are threaded Ythrough the bores of the hollow upright'bars I9, 26,;frame 28, hollow bars lil-to` an-finstrument |50.v mounted in a panel board |52'across the' top front of the body` I0.

Also mounted in the panel board |523 is `a pedometer |55 connected by a fiexible drive cable |56 to a wheel |51, see Fig. l. The wheel |51 is in engagement with belt 63 and is rotated by the belt to measure distance and speed of the belt rotation. Of course distance is relative to the time that the person walks on the belt.

Many other accessories may be provided, such as the rear steps |60, with a weighing scale |6| mounted in the top step thereof, and an electric light |62 to illuminate the scale dial and the steps.

The use and operation of the apparatus should be apparent from the foregoing description, how- 1 ever, the use of the apparatus will now be briefly summarized.

An exerciser walks up the steps weighs himself on the scale I6I, grips the handles |64 and steps onto the belt 63. He then grasps the handle 'I6 and pulls it toward him. As he does this the degl! latches between the teeth .'I'I to any of thetseveral adjusted positions. y 4, v

Therst position of the handle` may be an off brake position, until he has walked on the belt 63 long enough to get a desired speed ofbeltrotation, assuming Yhe is not to use the drive motor` |25. After he is on the belt the shoulder straps |45 may be applied and as a desired speed isf. attained the brake may be adjusted to any degree of .on position desired.

Asresistance tohis walking is increased there will be imparted from the shoulder straps |45 and cables `|46 va, movement ofthe indicatorv |50 correspondingto the'pull on the straps. This pull increasesas the brake 'l5 is applied.

AA still greater p ull -m ay be caused on the shoulder straps by raising theiront end ofthe apparatus by the jack 2'I to provide a hill or incline to walk upon.y 'Ihusthe machine is arranged to provide forprogressively greaterexertion, so as to gradually build a person's body and legstrength. i. Ar f 1 ,i

Also, as the apparatus is used the panel board is in easyyiew and the exerciser may observe his degree of pull .on the indicator |50 and his approximate speed and mileage on the indicator |55. i Y Y Whenever the manual operation is found too violentwhen a patient is beginning to rst use the apparatus, thenlthe power means or motor |25` is used to drive -theV belt `,and the patient is onlyrequired to keep upa steady stride in ac.-

cordance with` the speed of the belt rotation.

, Thus I have provided'an exercising apparatus which; is` simple in operation and construction. 'This apparatus is particularly designed for hospitals,gymnasiums, and private residences for the development `ofthe body muscles4 and for `teaching paralysiszvictims and patients, from other causes-how to walk againl after a long illness or the like. l Y

. While I have shown and described only one embodimenil of my invention, itis to be understood that various changes now likely to occur to others indesign and construction may be made without departing from the `scope of the present invention; and reference should be had to the appended claims to Adetermine the scope of my invention.

What isv claimed is: .i

, l.; Anexercisinglapparatus comprising a body adapted to enclose-.a frame, said frame having adjustable sections at each end, said sections comprising -`arms' with inturned ends, drums journall'ed onsaid ends and supported thereby for rotation between the arms, a ilexibleendless belt around said drums, and means adapted to regulatentherotation of said endless belt.

2. An exercisingnapparatus comprising a body adapted to enclose a frame, said frame having adjustable sections at `each end, said sections comprising arms with inturned ends, drums j ournalled on said ends and supported thereby for rotation between the arms, a flexible endless belt around said drums, and a brake adapted to regulate the speed of rotation of said belt.

3. An exercising apparatus comprising a body adapted to enclose a frame, said frame having adjustable sections at each end, said sections comprising arms at each end, drums journalled for rotation between the arms, a exible endless belt around said drums, a friction brake adapted to regulate the speed of rotation of said belt, and brake operatingA means adapted to latch the brake to different on positions.

4. In an exercising device, the combination or a berry, an einer hollow name afuhsaiu' body, ground engaging 'wheels for Siipting said body, vertically `1ovabl hoods 'normally adapted te ene se the upper een; er 'each ground wheel, coupling :means 'for joining 'Said hoods to said buter iframe, qsr'econ'd hollow coupling means `vertical-ly extending jfrom the top oi isaid hoods, fa, wheel rfork within j'eal hood 'afg'.llfpl'li-d to 'rotatably Imount said grou "d Aw-'lieels "a hollow rod coupled to the top df `'sa'.id wheel f f'ols in each hood "extending 'yeitical'ly upward through said hollow 'con ing fdac'n't thel f side's of said bdy, a sed hollow 'rod vteleSo'o'pc'alli rranged amine said first neuen rou toupies to the top of each-hood bysaidf-st oiplihgfineans, a bracket 'secire'd to Vsaid hoods extending toward each side of `tl'1'e fbbf ly portion, a'n frame supportedby said brackets, "said fiiarne being adapted torotatably m'o'nt a drum a't'ah comprising pair-gs er arse at eeen ena, eps'sA members 'eneetin'g said together', a 1on1 gi'tudinauy extending manner 'nnecte'd't 'said c'os's member-s, a drin'ita'tbly o'iifte'd'bj tween each 'pair o'f at eno for the sind second frame for mounting l`an endless beltgand means interposed in the length of said .crss members and said longitudinal member adapted to adjust 'the lengths'of `th'e respective members', whereby the drums may b r'eadily moun'ted 'and deniounted and the tension 'di `said endless belt may be regulated.

7. In an exercising device, the vcombination of a body, an outer hollow frame around said body, ground engaging wheels `for supporting said body', -vertically movable hoods normally adapte'd t0 el'lCSe th 'upp'el p'a'lt 0f eat-7h lg'ffl'llnd wheel, vcoupling means for joining said hoods to said outer frame, second hollow coupling means vertically extending from the top of said hoods, a wheel fork within each hood adapted to rotatl ably mount said ground wheels, a vhollow v'rod coupled to the top of said wheel forks in each hood extending vertically upward through said hollow coupling adjacent the sides of said bod'y, a second hollow rod telescopically 'arranged around said `flrst hollow rod coupled to the top of each hood by said r'st coupling means, a bracket secured tosaid hoods extending toward ea'chps'ide of the body portion, an inner frame supported by said brackets, said 'frame bieing adapted to rotatably jmouhta drum 'at each end of the body, an endless flexible belt around said drums adaptedto support the weight of av person walking' thereon, hoist means attached to the front 'of said outer frame adapted to raisey the front end of said belt tor provide 'an inclined walking Surface, means adapted to secure said telescoping hollow bars to any position to which the front oi said body is hoisted, 'a Ypanel board across the top front of said body having measuring instruments mounted therein, fa pair "of hollow uprights at the rear of said body joining with the hollow bores of said outer frame, cable means strung through' the Said frame on each side connected to one of said 4measuring'i'nstiments and having free e'nds protruding from the ends of said hollow upright, 'and harness means attached to 'the free ends of said cable means adapted to be placed 'around the shoulders of a user of the deviceV 'as he tr'ods on the endless belt.

8. An exercising apparatus comprising a bod-y adapted to enclose a frame, said frame havlng adjustable 4sections at each/end, said-sections comprising spaced arms' members carried byl said arms, drums rotatably mounted on 's'ai'd members, a flexible endless belt 'around said drums, an 'electric motor with fa housing having a rotor 'shat'exten'ding from it, said motor b'eing supported on said frame, a friction wheel secured to the extended end of said rotor shaft, a curved bracket secured to the motor housing ha'vng `a flat shoe on its fief'end under a por;

' tion/of th belt adapted to'lrold `said beltv in driving -c'ontact with saidy friction wheel', "and l'a rh'e'ostat 'switch adaptedto vary the supply "f current to vsaid motort 'produce different speeds of rotation of theroto mounted frictionwheel. to thereby driv'e the endless belt at diient selecte'd speeds.

' WARD BRAKE.` 

